BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #55: POPCORN by Hot Butter (Musicor, 1976)

What was that Frankenstein music machine with all the dials, sliders, patch cords etc., that made other-worldly sounds that were supposed to resemble “real” instruments, like strings, horns and flutes, but didn’t? It was the mighty Moog, invented by Cornell doctoral student and Theremin salesman, Robert Moog. He hooked up with musician-educator Herb Deutsch, developed the voltage regulation for oscillators and modulators, and the thing caught on. The first time most of us heard it was on Wendy Carlos’ SWITCHED ON BACH record, which, by aligning itself to one of the world’s most beloved composers, became a sensation in 1968, and was a defining feature of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. Not long after that it became an absolute must have for the Prog matadors like Keith Emerson of ELP. The Beatles also used it extensively on Abby Road, etc. The list goes on and on. Speaking for myself, I’ve always found the Moog and the electronic sounds it made cold and clinical (though fascinating). However, on this record its positively cuddly, and it makes me smile when I recall that it was used by the Muppets for the Swedish Chef routine. Composed by Gershon Kingsley, this hit version of Popcorn was recorded by Stan Free of Hot Butter, and its lighter than air.